German television crew expelled from Kosovo; authorities carry out campaign to harass foreign media

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(RSF/IFEX) - On 14 August 1998, reporter Friedhelm Brebeck and his twocameramen were expelled from Kosovo. The journalists, who work for theGerman public television channel ARD, were officially accused by authoritiesof having incited Albanians to set fire to a house in Junik in order to filmfootage of it. Brebeck categorically denies the accusations.

This most recent attack on press freedom occurs within the context ofSerbian authorities freely harassing foreign journalists or correspondentsfor foreign media. Over the past six months, at least eight of them havebeen assaulted or mistreated. Serbian police have even torn up theaccreditation of several foreign journalists, warning them that they could"become targets" if the international community imposes sanctions on theFederal Republic of Yugoslavia. Moreover, many correspondents for theinternational media have been refused a visa or denied access to certainareas within Kosovo.

These repeated threats have yet to be condemned by the FRY government. Worsestill, they have gained justification from comments made by Serbiangovernment ministers or press officials, who have violently criticised theforeign media. For instance, in March, Goran Matic, FRY Secretary ofInformation, stated that "the world media had committed a massacre againstthe truth" in their treatment of events in Kosovo.

Recommended Action

Send appeals to authorities:

denouncing the attitude of Serbian authorities towards the foreign media,indicating that it demonstrates a willingness to have silenced those whowish to present a reality that is quite different from what Belgrade offers

calling on them to put an end to the harassment of the foreign press aswell as those who work for foreign media outlets

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